Body wearable simulated wings

ABSTRACT

A body worn personal accessory for simulating wings, for example, as part of a costume. The accessory has a base plate which is held to the body of the user by straps. A manual cable based actuation system for spreading the wings is mounted on the base plate. The wings comprise an uncomplicated rigid skeleton adapted to enable flexing or spreading, and a web covering the skeleton. The actuation system includes cables terminating in hand receiving loops.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to personally worn accessories, and moreparticularly to simulated appendages such as wings which may be worn bya person, for example, to complement or be a part of a costume.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are times when a person desires to wear an accessory, for exampleto achieve a dramatic effect. This may be done for example infurtherance of theatrical performances, as part of religiousobservances, for amusement, and for other reasons.

Simulation of wings, such as wings of birds, is one example of a type ofpersonal accessory. For maximal verisimilitude and dramatic effect, thesimulated wings should both take on the appearance of wings, and shouldbe operable to move or spread in the manner of wings, to the extent thatthese are feasible.

There exists a need for a wearable accessory which simulates wings inboth appearance and in motion, which can be worn securely on the body ofa user, and wherein spreading of the wings can be actuated by hand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention meets the above stated need by providing awearable accessory which simulates wings. The wings of the wearableaccessory have a framework of ribs and an associated web whichcollectively generally convey a visual impression of wings, while beingoperable to spread on demand, thereby furthering the simulationdynamically. The wearable accessory may have a base and straps enablingit to be worn on the body of a user. A manually operated cable typedrive may actuate the wings to spread. The cable drive may be so locatedand configured that it does not permanently engage the arms and hands ofthe wearer while the body worn accessory is donned, and thus can beoperated at will, while readily releasing the hands of the user tosatisfy other purposes.

It is an object of the invention to provide a wearable accessory whichsimulates wings in both appearance and also in motion.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wearable accessory whichsimulates wings, which can be worn securely on the body of a user.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wearable accessorywhich simulates wings, wherein spreading of the wings can be actuated byhand while not permanently occupying the arm and hands of a user.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements andarrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which isinexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing itsintended purposes.

These and other objects of the present invention will become readilyapparent upon further review of the following specification anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the presentinvention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes betterunderstood when considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which like reference characters designate the same orsimilar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an environmental front perspective view of a body wearableaccessory according to one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partly exploded, rear perspective view of the body wearableaccessory of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail view of a joint seen at the top right ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a further enlarged perspective detail view of the joint ofFIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an environmental rear perspective view of the subject matterof FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5, but showing control cables in a relaxedstate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a person 2 wearing a body wearable accessory 100 forsimulating wings. As employed herein, wings are those of animals whichnormally have wings, such as wings of birds, insects, and bats (noneshown). It will be seen that the body wearable accessory 100 maycomprise two simulated wings 102, 104. It will be appreciated that theactual number of simulated wings may be only one, or may be a pluralityof two or more simulated wings, as desired. The simulated wing 102 maycomprise a form holding frame 106 and a flexible web 108 coupled to theform holding frame 106. The form holding frame 106 may comprise a firstform holding member or rib 110 which may be pivotally coupled to asecond form holding member or rib 112.

Form holding signifies that the element so described has sufficientrigidity to maintain its form in the absence of outside forces otherthan those imposed by the mass and, where provided, elasticity of theconstituent materials of the body wearable accessory. Rigidity issufficient to cause the components to individually or collectivelyassume a form simulating a wing. It would be possible for theconstituent materials to be selectively flexible to deform elasticallyunder outside forces, such as manual handling, but where this is thecase, the constituent materials would have sufficient elasticity toreassume the original form when the outside forces are removed.

Turning to FIG. 2, the body wearable accessory 100 is seen to comprise amounting element 114 which is capable of securing the body wearableaccessory 100 on the body of the person 2 in a position which, as seenin FIG. 1, enables deployment of the body wearable accessory 100.Deployment signifies that the simulated wing 102 can be moved relativeto the mounting element 114 so as to simulate at least one motion of awing, as will be explained hereinafter. To this end, the mountingelement may further comprise a generally rigid plate 114 to which may beanchored a first body encircling strap 116 and a second body encirclingstrap 118. The body encircling straps render the body attachment element114 readily detachable from the body of the wearer 2.

The body encircling straps 116 and 118 are but one of many ways toengage the body of the user for mounting the body wearable accessory100, and may be replaced by webs, rigid members in the singular orplural, by any combination of these, or by any other suitable structurefor readily attaching to and removing from the body of the wearer.

As depicted in FIG. 2, the mounting element 114 may comprise two panels120, 122 which are mutually connected by a hinge 123. The two hingedpanels 120, 122 enable compact stowage of the mounting element 114 whenthe body wearable accessory 100 is not in use. Of course, the mountingelement 114 may be formed as just one panel (not shown) or in more thantwo panels (not shown). The mounting element may take other forms (noneshown) if desired, such as a flexible harness comprising one or morestraps, a flexible web panel, or any combination of these. If providedas a flexible panel, the mounting element may encircle the torso or anyother part of the body of the wearer.

Regardless of the nature of the mounting element 114, each simulatedwing 102 or 104 is supported thereon. Recitation of an element such as asimulated wing 102 or 104 being supported on another recited elementdoes not necessarily require that the connection between the two bedirect, or that the entire support function be satisfied solely by thesupporting element. For example, the relationship wherein a simulatedwing 102 or 104 is mounted on or to the mounting element 114 will beunderstood to encompass arrangements wherein one or more interveningmembers (not shown) are interposed between the simulated wing 102 or 104and the mounting element 114, or where other fully or partly interveningelements are present. In the example of a simulated wing 102 or 104 andthe mounting element 114, it is merely necessary that the simulated wing102 or 104 be ultimately supported on the mounting element 114, and notthat the simulated wing 102 or 104 be directly attached to the mountingelement 114.

The flexible web 108 may have a first sleeve 124 and a second sleeve126. The sleeve 124 may slidably receive the rib 112 in a mannerenabling the flexible web 108 to be removed, for example, for washing orfor compact stowage. In like manner, the second sleeve 126 may slidablyreceive the rib 110.

FIG. 2 also shows a manually operable drive 130 disposed to move thesimulated wing 104 in a motion suggesting spreading of a wing responsiveto forces imposed on the manually operable drive 130 by at least one ofa finger, a plurality of fingers, the hand, and the arm of a person whois wearing the body wearable accessory 100, when the finger, theplurality of fingers, the hand, or the arm, or any combination of theseis not in direct contact with the simulated wing 104. This assures thatmotive power for the manually operable drive 130 be fully satisfied byhuman power of the person 2 wearing the body wearable accessory 100.

It should be mentioned at this point that the second simulated wing 104may be structurally and functionally similar to the simulated wing 102,but arranged generally as a mirror image of the simulated wing 102. Tothis end, the simulated wing has a form holding frame 136 and a flexibleweb 138 coupled to the form holding frame 136. The form holding frame136 comprises a first form holding member or rib 140 which may bepivotally coupled to a second form holding member or rib 142. As thesimulated wing 104 is generally a mirror image of the simulated wing102, it will be appreciated that the form holding frame 136 and theflexible web 138 are structural and functionally similar to theirsimilarly named counterparts of the simulated wing 102, includingsleeves (not called out by reference numerals).

The manually operable drive 130 is may comprise a cable 144 terminatingin a loop 146. One way of using the loop 146 is shown in FIG. 1, whereinthe person 2 wearing the body wearable accessory 100 has engaged theloop 146 by hand. It will be appreciated that the cable 144 extends to alocation which is readily accessible to one of the finger, fingers,hand, and arm of the person 2 wearing the body wearable accessory 100.

Again referring to FIG. 2, the cable 144 passes through a keeper 148which holds the cable 144 in a position wherein the cable 144 does notbecome entangled or otherwise obstructed or inoperative. The cable 144passes through a socket 150 which secures the rib 110 in place on themounting element 114 so that the rib 110 projects from the mountingelement 114 in a direction enabling the simulated wing 102 to move asdescribed herein.

The cable 144 passes through the rib 110 to a clevis joint 152. Linearmotion of the cable 144 is converted to pivotal motion of the rib 112relative to the rib 110 at the clevis joint 152. Pivotal movement of therib 112 is shown in FIG. 3. A pull imposed on the cable 144 in thedirection indicated as arrow A will move the rib 112 in the directionindicated as arrow B to the position indicated in broken lines in FIG.3.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the clevis joint 152. The clevisjoint 152 includes a clevis socket 154 which engages a distal end of therib 110, which rib 110 is seen to be hollow. The cable 144 passesthrough the hollow tubular rib 110 and through the clevis socket 154.The rib 112 is mounted on a pivot post 156 which is pivotally mounted tothe clevis socket on a pivot pin 158. The pivot pin 158 passes throughholes 160 and 162 which are formed in respective tabs 164 and 166 of theclevis socket 154. The pivot pin 158 is secured in place when it extendsbetween the holes 160, 162 by a suitable fastener such as a nut 168.

The cable 144 extends to the pivot post 156 where it terminates inengagement with the pivot post 156. The cable 144 may be connected tothe second form holding member or rib 112 in a manner which causes therib 112 to pivot relative to the rib 110 responsive to the cable 144being pulled. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the cable 144 may have anenlarged head which may be formed by tying a knot 170. The enlarged headprevents the cable 144 from withdrawing from a hole 172 formed in thepivot post 156 to engage or retain the end of the cable 144. Of course,the enlarged head may be formed in other ways, such as by potting theend of the cable 144 in a suitable material such as epoxy, by crimping ametallic member to the end of the cable 144, by melting the end usingheat, sonic or ultrasonic welding, using one or more solvents, or in anyother suitable way.

Turning now to FIG. 5, just as the body wearable accessory 100 may havetwo simulated wings 102 and 104, the manually operable drive 130 maycomprise a second cable 180 dedicated to operating the simulated wing104. The second cable 180 may be provided with operative elementssimilar but in mirror image relation to those for operating thesimulated wing 102. These operative elements may include a keeper 182, asocket 184 for supporting the rib 140, and a clevis joint 152, all ofwhich may be functionally and structurally similar to their similarlynamed counterparts associated with the cable 144.

FIG. 5 shows how the body wearable accessory 100 may appear when thesimulated wings 102 and 104 are maximally spread apart using the cables144 and 180. When not spread apart, the simulated wings 102 and 104 maytake a collapsed or sagging configuration, as seen in FIG. 2. FIG. 5also shows how each simulated wing 102 or 104 is operated by the handlocated on the opposite side of the body of the person 2 wearing thebody wearable accessory 100.

According to one aspect of the invention, a keeper, such as the keeper148, or a socket, such as the socket 150, or another component (notshown) of the body wearable accessory 100 may be adapted to impose africtional grip on a cable, such as the cable 144, so that the cablewill not slide spontaneously when the wing 102 is in the spreadcondition shown in FIG. 1, even when the force of the weight of a wing,such as the wing 102, is imposed thereon. This characteristic enables aperson wearing the body wearable accessory 100 to relax his or her gripon a loop associated with the cable, such as the loop 146, without thewing reverting to a collapsed or compressed condition, such as thatdepicted in FIG. 2. This frees the hands of the person for otherpurposes. A cable which controls a wing, such as the cable 144 and thewing 102, may be anchored in other ways to accommodate temporary releaseof manual grip to free the hands. For example, the cable may be tied offon a suitable object (not shown). This object may be a post or the likeprovided as part of the body wearable accessory 100, or may beassociated with the wearer. For example, the cable may be tied to a beltloop of pants worn by the wearer. Alternatively, two cables, such as thecables 144 and 180, may be tied to one another.

The invention is susceptible to variations and modifications which maybe introduced thereto without departing from the inventive concept.Where variations are introduced, it will be understood that bodywearable accessories which embody aspects of the invention may besubstituted for the body wearable accessory 100 where the latter isspecifically mentioned. For example, the mounting element 114 may beadapted to attach to the front of a person 2 wearing a body wearableaccessory according to an aspect of the invention.

Although actuation of wing motion has been described in terms of twoseparate cables and associated components, such as the cable 144, itwould be possible to provide a single actuating cable and arrange thatcable to fork or divide, and thereby actuate plural simulated appendagesfrom a single actuating loop such as the loop 146. The actuating devicemay be modified to engage the body of the person 2 wearing a bodywearable accessory such as the body wearable accessory 100 by meansother than a loop, or to enable a body part other than the hand or armto actuate the simulated appendage or appendages.

While the present invention has depicted as relating to wings, it wouldbe within the scope of the invention to modify the symbolic or visualaspects of wings to assume other forms. For example, body appendagesother than wings may be manipulated in the manner set forth herein, suchas legs, arms, tails, or even plural heads, such as to simulate amythical human or animal character of legend.

Although a body worn accessory according to the invention has beendepicted as a stand alone device, it may nonetheless be incorporatedinto apparel, such as for example a costume or part of a costume.

The invention is not to be regarded as limited to the constructionsexplicitly described herein, but as encompassed by the appended claims.

1. A body wearable accessory for simulating wings, comprising: amounting element having a body attachment element capable of securingthe body wearable accessory on the body of a person in a positionenabling deployment of the body wearable accessory, wherein the bodyattachment element is readily detachable from the body of the wearer; atleast one simulated wing supported on the mounting element in a mannerenabling the at least one simulated wing to be movable relative to themounting element; and a manually operable drive disposed to move the atleast one simulated wing in a spreading motion responsive to forcesimposed on the manually operable drive by at least one of a finger, aplurality of fingers, the hand, and the arm of a person who is wearingthe body wearable accessory, wherein the finger, the plurality offingers, the hand, or the arm, or any combination of these is not indirect contact with the simulated wing, and wherein motive power for themanually operable drive is fully satisfied by human power of the personwearing the body wearable accessory.
 2. The body wearable accessoryaccording to claim 1, wherein the at least one simulated wing comprisesa plurality of simulated wings.
 3. The body wearable accessory accordingto claim 1, wherein the at least one simulated wing comprises a formholding frame and a flexible web coupled to the form holding frame. 4.The body wearable accessory according to claim 1, wherein the bodyattachment element comprises at least one strap which is dimensioned andconfigured to encircle the torso of the person wearing the body wearableaccessory.
 5. The body wearable accessory according to claim 1, whereinthe manually operable drive comprises a cable extending from thesimulated wing to a location which is readily accessible to one of thefinger, fingers, hand, and arm of the person wearing the body wearableaccessory.
 6. The body wearable accessory according to claim 3, whereinthe form holding frame of the manually operable drive further comprisesa first form holding member supported on the body attachment element anda second form holding member pivotally coupled to the first form holdingmember.
 7. The body wearable accessory according to claim 6, wherein themanually operable drive comprises a cable extending from the simulatedwing to a location which is readily accessible to one of the finger,fingers, hand, and arm of the person wearing the body wearableaccessory, and wherein the cable is connected to the second form holdingmember in a manner which causes the second form holding member to pivotrelative to the first form holding member responsive to the cable beingpulled.
 8. The body wearable accessory according to claim 6, wherein themanually operable drive further comprises a second simulated wing and asecond cable extending from the second simulated wing to a locationwhich is readily accessible to one of the finger, fingers, hand, and armof the person wearing the body wearable accessory, and wherein thesecond cable is connected to the second simulated wing in a manner whichcauses the second simulated wing to move in a manner similar to that ofthe first simulated wing, responsive to the second cable being pulled.9. The body wearable accessory according to claim 1, wherein themounting element comprises a first panel, a second panel, and a hingepivotally connecting the first panel to the second panel.